How the UAE is working to reverse its falling birth rate
In a global report published last month, the UN Population Fund found that nearly 20 per cent of reproductive-age adults surveyed in 14 countries believed they will be unable to have the number of children they desire. In addition, nearly 40 per cent reported that financial limitations had affected or would affect their ability to have their ideal family. 'Millions of people around the world are unable to have the number of children they want – whether they want more, fewer, or none at all,' the report's authors added.
The UAE is not immune from the wider demographic trend of declining birth rates; a recent meeting of the Federal National Council heard that there had been an 11 per cent drop in births among Emiratis between 2015 and 2022. But an examination of the country's response to this challenge shows that, when it comes to incentivising more young people to start families, the Emirates is focusing on more than just finances – it is building the sort of supportive society in which people feel empowered to take on the many ups and downs of parenthood.
A statement sent to The National by Sana bint Mohammed Suhail, Minister of Family, has revealed some of the thinking behind this approach. 'Behind every data point is a young couple making decisions about marriage,' she said. 'A working mother balancing ambitions with nurturing. A father wanting to give more time but stretched by economic pressures. These are not only social realities – they are policy challenges, and more importantly, national opportunities.'
Widespread and practical support for the social scaffolding necessary for parents to raise happy and healthy families is critical. This means accessible schools, high-quality health care and flexible employment. In this sense, Ms Suhail is right to describe this as a 'national opportunity' because it requires different branches of government and the private sector working together to improve and co-ordinate policy across all kinds of areas, all with the goal of supporting families.
Plans for a national fertility strategy discussed at the FNC meeting have focused on improving the lives of young Emiratis rather than merely boosting population numbers. Indeed, such an approach is already in the works; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, last year approved the Emirati Family Growth Programme 'to enhance family stability and reinforce community cohesion'. Part of the Abu Dhabi Family Wellbeing Strategy, it aims to help young people build stable families as a driver of economic and social development in the emirate.
If it takes a village to raise a child, then the UAE is showing the wisdom of taking that approach to the national level
As some western societies become more individualist and atomised, often with unrealistic ideas about family life, other societies in the Middle East and Asia remain resolutely focused on the importance of the family unit, something that perpetuates a sense of cohesion and continuity. This sense of family and togetherness may be one of the reasons that decision makers in the UAE are looking past hard numbers and general trends to appreciate the complexities of a challenge as human as raising family.
If it takes a village to raise a child, then the UAE is showing the wisdom of taking that approach to the national level.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Egypt: EFG Hermes advises on $190mln DPI investment in Alameda
Arab Finance: EFG Hermes, the investment banking arm of EFG Holding, has announced its role as sole M&A financial advisor on a $190 million minority stake investment in Egypt's Alameda Healthcare by Development Partners International (DPI), as per an emailed press release. This was in partnership with a consortium of institutional investors and development finance institutions. The deal, one of the largest foreign direct investments in Egypt's healthcare sector, involves a capital increase and is expected to close in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Fahad Khater will remain the majority shareholder of Alameda following the transaction. The investment is set to boost Alameda's growth across Egypt and the GCC, with proceeds entering the local banking system to support the expansion of hospital operations and clinical capacity in key regional markets. This marks one of several major transactions led by EFG Hermes this year, reinforcing its leadership in M&A, DCM, and ECM advisory across Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (


Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Gaza civil defence says 12 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed at least 12 people on Monday, including six in a clinic housing Palestinians displaced after 21 months of war. Israel has recently expanded its military operations in the Gaza Strip, where the war has created dire humanitarian conditions for the Palestinian territory's population of more than two million. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that six people were killed and 15 injured in an Israeli air strike that hit the Al Rimal clinic, "which houses hundreds of displaced people, in the Al Rimal neighbourhood west of Gaza City." AFP footage showed Palestinians, including groups of young children, combing through the bombed-out interior of the clinic, where mattresses lay alongside wood, metal and concrete broken apart in the blast. "We were surprised by missiles and explosions inside the building," eyewitness Salman Qudum told AFP. "We did not know where to go because of the dust and destruction." In the south of the territory, Bassal said two people were killed and 20 others injured by Israeli forces' gunfire while waiting for aid near a distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). A US- and Israel-backed group, the GHF took the lead in food distribution in the territory in late May, but its operations have had a chaotic rollout with repeated reports of aid seekers killed near its facilities. Hundreds reported killed The UN human rights office said last week that more than 500 people have been killed waiting to access food from GHF distribution points. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Sunday placed that toll higher, at 751 killed. In Khan Younis in the south, Bassal reported two people killed in an air strike on a house and another killed by Israeli gunfire. An air strike on a house in Gaza City killed one and injured several others, he added. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. In a separate statement, it said it had struck "dozens of terrorists, weapons depots, observation posts, military buildings, and other terror infrastructures" over the past 24 hours. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency. Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel which triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Out of 251 hostages seized during the attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead. Israel's retaliatory campaign has killed more than 57,418 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers its figures reliable.


Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Gulf Medical University announces second cycle of Thumbay International Research Grant of AED3mln to fuel innovation and impact -25/26
In a bold step to propel global medical research and healthcare innovation, Thumbay Group—through its academic flagship Gulf Medical University (GMU)—has launched the Second Cycle of the Thumbay International Research Grant 2025/26. With a total allocation of AED 3 million, the grant reaffirms Thumbay Group's commitment to empowering research that transforms lives, strengthens healthcare systems, and addresses real-world challenges. This initiative invites visionary researchers from around the world to submit proposals that are rooted in innovation, evidence-based methodology, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The focus areas include some of the most critical frontiers in healthcare: precision oncology, drug discovery, AI applications in medicine, public health, healthcare systems and health economics, veterinary medicine, and innovation in medical education. The grant serves as a powerful platform that connects scientific discovery with societal progress. It is designed to nurture research that delivers tangible outcomes in patient care, medical education, and the integration of technology in healthcare systems. At its core lies a belief in the transformative power of ideas. Through this initiative, we are investing in visionary minds and trailblazers whose work will shape the future of medicine and spark the next generation of breakthroughs. Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Thumbay Moideen, Founder President of Thumbay Group, said, 'Through this grant, we are investing to make Gulf Medical University a leading research-based university and United Arab Emirates to be a Hub for research and innovation. In the next two years, we hope to increase the Grant amount to AED 10 Million.' Echoing the founder's vision, Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Acting Chancellor at GMU, added, 'Our goal is to create an ecosystem where research is not confined to the lab but extended into clinics and communities, making an impact on patient outcomes. With over 100 leading industry partners, GMU is proud to serve as the launchpad for innovation with purpose.' Proposals are now being accepted, with a submission deadline of November 30, 2025. This initiative by Thumbay Group once again places the UAE at the heart of global efforts to foster cutting-edge research, proving that when visionary leadership meets purpose-driven science, the possibilities are limitless. Gulf Medical University is one of the region's leading academic health centers, known for its innovation-driven medical education and global collaborations. With over 90 nationalities represented on campus and partnerships with more than 60 universities worldwide, GMU is committed to shaping future healthcare leaders.